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Abdallah Bou Habib, Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs, called on Monday for the initiation of "indirect negotiations with Israel to resolve points of disagreement," intending to initiate the demarcation of the Israeli-Lebanese border.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Bou Habib stressed that "Israeli aggression against Lebanon must stop, and then we must start demarcating the border" between Lebanon and Israel, after which "Israel can build a wall there," he continued.
This statement seems surprising, given that the land border with Israel is already demarcated by the Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of March 23, 1949. This point is reiterated by the United Nations Security Council in the text of Resolution 1701, dating from 2006. The Council reaffirms support "for strict respect of the Blue Line" as well as attachment "to the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders, as provided for in the agreement" of 1949.
Moreover, such an appeal virtually ignores the statement made by Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on January 12, who insisted on the need to "start by applying the 1949 Armistice Agreement, not forgetting UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
At the same time, Bou Habib reiterated the call for "the application of resolution 1701," pointing out that "stopping the fighting in southern Lebanon is difficult because of constant Israeli threats."
"If a truce is put in place in Gaza, escalation will cease in southern Lebanon," he added.
As for the two-state solution, the minister felt that "the international community supports this initiative, while the rejection comes from Israel."
Bou Habib's remarks came on the occasion of his visit to New York, where he took part in a ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council devoted to the current situation in the Middle East. The meeting included a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
In this context, Bou Habib met the Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Saturday to discuss the results of the visit, noting that there was now "a historic opportunity to achieve a lasting calm along Lebanon's southern border."
In addition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Lebanon "has never sought war and does not seek it today," asserting that "Lebanon's vision for achieving lasting security and stability in the south is based on the complete implementation of Resolution 1701 within the framework of an integrated agreement, ensuring clear and declared international guarantees."
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Bou Habib stressed that "Israeli aggression against Lebanon must stop, and then we must start demarcating the border" between Lebanon and Israel, after which "Israel can build a wall there," he continued.
This statement seems surprising, given that the land border with Israel is already demarcated by the Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of March 23, 1949. This point is reiterated by the United Nations Security Council in the text of Resolution 1701, dating from 2006. The Council reaffirms support "for strict respect of the Blue Line" as well as attachment "to the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders, as provided for in the agreement" of 1949.
Moreover, such an appeal virtually ignores the statement made by Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on January 12, who insisted on the need to "start by applying the 1949 Armistice Agreement, not forgetting UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
At the same time, Bou Habib reiterated the call for "the application of resolution 1701," pointing out that "stopping the fighting in southern Lebanon is difficult because of constant Israeli threats."
"If a truce is put in place in Gaza, escalation will cease in southern Lebanon," he added.
As for the two-state solution, the minister felt that "the international community supports this initiative, while the rejection comes from Israel."
Bou Habib's remarks came on the occasion of his visit to New York, where he took part in a ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council devoted to the current situation in the Middle East. The meeting included a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
In this context, Bou Habib met the Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Saturday to discuss the results of the visit, noting that there was now "a historic opportunity to achieve a lasting calm along Lebanon's southern border."
In addition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Lebanon "has never sought war and does not seek it today," asserting that "Lebanon's vision for achieving lasting security and stability in the south is based on the complete implementation of Resolution 1701 within the framework of an integrated agreement, ensuring clear and declared international guarantees."
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